Connecticut requires a permit to carry a concealed handgun under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-28. You can obtain a Pistol Permit from the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP). To get a permit, you must be 21 or older, complete a firearms training course (at least 8 hours), and pass a background check with fingerprinting. You must first obtain a temporary permit from your local authority (valid for 60 days), which can then be converted to a state permit. Concealed carry is banned in certain places like schools, courthouses, and state parks (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-217b). Private property owners can also ban firearms with proper signage. Open carry is allowed with a permit but may draw law enforcement attention. Violations can lead to felony charges, with penalties up to 5 years in prison.
Costs: A temporary permit costs $70, and the state permit costs $70. Fingerprinting costs $15 (local) and $75 (state). Training courses typically cost $100-$150. Total costs for a permit are usually $330-$380.
Processing Time: Temporary permits must be processed within 8 weeks; state permits take an additional 8 weeks, but delays can occur.
Renewal: A permit is valid for 5 years. Renewal costs $70 and does not require retraining.
Reciprocity: Connecticut does not honor permits from any other state. A Connecticut permit is recognized by 16 states, including Florida and Indiana. Always check the laws of the state you're visiting.
Connecticut allows open carry of handguns with a valid Pistol Permit under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-35. You must be 21 or older and have a permit to openly carry a handgun in public. Open carry without a permit is illegal and can result in felony charges. Open carry is banned in certain places like schools, courthouses, and state parks (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-217b). Private property owners can prohibit open carry with proper signage. Long guns, like rifles and shotguns, can be openly carried without a permit in most places, but local ordinances may apply, and carrying a loaded long gun in a vehicle is restricted (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-206d). Displaying any firearm in a threatening manner is illegal (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-181d). Violations can lead to felony charges, with penalties up to 5 years in prison.
Connecticut has strict laws on firearm types. Assault weapons are banned, defined as certain semi-automatic firearms with specific features like pistol grips or detachable magazines (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202a). Large-capacity magazines (over 10 rounds) are prohibited, with no grandfathering for pre-ban magazines (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202w). Silencers, short-barreled rifles/shotguns, and machine guns are banned unless they comply with federal law (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202). Ghost guns are illegal unless they have a state-issued serial number (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-36a). Certain people can't possess firearms, like felons or those with mental health issues (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-217). Firearms are banned in specific places like schools (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-217b). Violations can lead to felony charges, with penalties up to 5 years in prison.
Costs: Serializing a ghost gun costs $25 per firearm through the DESPP. Federal fees apply for items like silencers ($200 tax stamp).
Processing Time: Federal background checks for restricted items (e.g., silencers) can take 6-12 months through the ATF.
Interstate travel with firearms through or into Connecticut is allowed under federal law, but you must follow strict state rules. The federal Firearms Owners' Protection Act (FOPA), under 18 U.S.C. § 926A, lets you transport firearms across state lines if you can legally possess them in your starting and destination states. The firearm must be unloaded, and neither the firearm nor its ammo can be easily reached—store them in a trunk or locked container (not the glove box). Connecticut law requires all firearms to be unloaded and in a locked container during transport (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-38). You must have a Connecticut Pistol Permit to possess a handgun in the state, even in a vehicle, and Connecticut doesn't honor other states' permits (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-35). Rifles and shotguns don't require a permit but must be unloaded. Firearms are banned in many places, like schools and state parks (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-217b). Violations can lead to felony charges, with penalties up to 5 years in prison.
Purchasing a firearm in Connecticut is heavily regulated. You must be 21 to buy a handgun and need a Pistol Permit or Eligibility Certificate (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-36f). For rifles and shotguns, you must be 18, but you need a Long Gun Eligibility Certificate (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-37p). All purchases require a background check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), and the state conducts an additional check (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-17a). There's a 14-day waiting period for handguns and long guns unless you have a permit. Assault weapons and large-capacity magazines (over 10 rounds) can't be purchased (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202w). Private sales must go through a licensed dealer with a background check (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-36l). Certain people, like felons, can't buy firearms (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-217).
Costs: A Pistol Permit costs $140 (including fingerprinting). An Eligibility Certificate costs $35, with $15 for fingerprinting. The state background check fee is $50 per transaction, and dealers may charge an additional $10-$25 for the NICS check. Total fees for a handgun purchase (including permit) are typically $200-$215, and for a long gun, $110-$125.
Processing Time: NICS background checks are usually instant but can take up to 3 days if there's a delay.
Connecticut requires registration for certain firearms. Handguns require a Pistol Permit or Eligibility Certificate, which effectively registers them (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-36f). Assault weapons had to be registered by January 1, 2014, under Public Act 13-3, and new ones can't be registered (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202d). Ghost guns must be serialized by the DESPP before completion (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-36a). There's no registration for other long guns, but you must report lost or stolen firearms to law enforcement within 72 hours (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202g). Not registering a required firearm can lead to felony charges, with penalties up to 5 years in prison.
Costs: A Pistol Permit (which registers handguns) costs $140 (including fingerprinting). An Eligibility Certificate costs $35. Serializing a ghost gun costs $25 per firearm.
Connecticut has strict firearm storage laws. Firearms must be stored unloaded and either in a locked container or with a trigger lock when not in use, especially if you live with someone who can't legally possess them, like a felon (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 29-37i). If a child under 16 gains access to a firearm and causes injury or death, you can be charged with risk of injury to a child (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-21). Penalties can be a misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail) or a felony (up to 5 years in prison) if serious harm occurs. You must report lost or stolen firearms within 72 hours (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-202g), or face a fine up to $1,000.
Connecticut has a limited Castle Doctrine under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-20. You can use deadly force inside your home if someone unlawfully enters and you reasonably believe they're a threat to cause death or serious injury. However, Connecticut has a duty to retreat in public places—you must try to escape if you can safely do so before using deadly force (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-19). The Castle Doctrine doesn't extend to your vehicle or workplace. The intruder can't be a household member. Using excessive force can lead to charges like manslaughter or murder, with penalties up to 20 years in prison.